Checked elsewhere

“Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque said the European Commission has not withdrawn GSP preference of any country.”

Vera Files says: Sixteen countries have so far been delisted or temporarily withdrawn from the list of the current GSP regulation of the EU.

“The Philippines affirms its arbitral victory against China in the South China Sea dispute before the United Nations General Assembly.”

Vera Files says: President Duterte's statement contradicted that of his top diplomat Teodoro Locsin Jr., who earlier strongly opposed raising the arbitral win in the UN. Duterte's stance in the UN speech also contradicted his own past p…

“A public toilet with no dividers has a P295 million budget while the entire rehabilitation of Manila Bay only costs P385 million”

“The Philippines is being fooled by its Department of Health with its recommendations for the wearing of masks and face shields, and social distancing, because those preventive measures are not being done by the NBA in the United States, and in Tanzania and Wuhan, China.”

“Anyone can request a copy of the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of any public official in the executive branch through President Duterte's Executive Order No. 1.”

Vera Files says: It is Executive Order No. 2 that mandates full public disclosure and transparency of information in the executive branch.

“Face masks reduce oxygen in the brain and blood, cause body weakness and may lead to death”

“Kuya Kim Atienza was shot by a thief inside his house and is now in critical condition”

“Senator Gina Linetti of the Republic of Italy said President Rodrigo Duterte is one of the best politicians she has met and that Filipinos are lucky to have him”

“The Philippines' Commission on Audit is filing charges against Vice President Leni Robredo because her office did not distribute P195 million intended for the poor”

“Bay full of trash and driftwood shows Manila Bay under the past five administrations before Rodrigo Duterte took office”

“Comparison photo of Manila Bay before and after Rodrigo Duterte took office shows a trash-filled Manila Bay under the term of five presidents before him”

“Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque claims that the Duterte administration deserves an 85 percent rating for effective COVID-19 response because it managed to minimize the number of deaths and infection, owing primarily for being the first country in Southeast Asia to impose a lockdown.”

Vera Files says: Vietnam was the first country in Southeast Asia to close its borders on Jan. 23. President Duterte declared a travel ban on all visitors from Hubei province only on Jan. 31, and expanded it to cover the whole of China a…

“Under the Aquino administration, the San Benedicto Bridge in Surigao was a broken wooden bridge. Under the Duterte administration, it became a massive metal bridge.”

“Bishop Broderick Pabillo was admonished by Isko Moreno because he wants Manila Bay white sand project stopped”

“During the Aquino administration, there were no complaints about pollution in Manila Bay. Duterte on the other hand was bombarded with criticism.”

“COVID-19 is curable using traditional Chinese medicine or steroids, along with antibiotics.”

Vera Files says: While some western, traditional, or home remedies may provide comfort and alleviate symptoms of mild COVID-19, there are no medicines that have shown to prevent or cure the disease. Experts do not recommend self-medicat…

“The photo of a clean beach with white sand shows Manila Bay after its rehabilitation”

“Israel is a net exporter of vegetables in the Middle East.”

Vera Files says: In 2018, Israel's vegetable exports to the Middle East and North African region were valued at 3.348 million U.S. dollars, while its imports were at 17.418 million U.S. dollars -- which puts it at a trade deficit of abo…

“Philippines' COVID-19 testing policy best in Asia, probably in the world”

FactRakers says: China, 5 other Asian countries have run more tests than the Philippines

“The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization cut the number of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. from 160,000 to just 9,000.”

Vera Files says: Neither CDC nor WHO has made such a revision in the COVID-19 death tally in the U.S. The claim that there are only 9,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. and not 160,000 is a wrong interpretation of CDC’s COVID-19 data on co…